Feeding and Nutrition :: Red Ear Slider won't eat.

[Jenn27]

Hello everyone! I'm so glad I found this place! I have a question about a Red Ear Slider. My son got a tiny hatchling Red Ear Slider back in April for his birthday. Up to now, all has been great with the little guy! Growing like crazy. He was about the size of a quarter when we first got him...a bit bigger, maybe. Now, two months later, he has doubled in size. We have him in a 10 gal tank, with a light and basking rock, and have been feeding him the floating baby turtle pellets. Oh, the tank is about a quarter the way full of water. I only just yesterday found an internal filter for it. Up to now, I have been doing water changes. Anyway....now he won't eat!! For a few days now, he just lets his food float there, without so much as a glance at it. I even bought him some tiny freeze-dried shrimp that I was told they love. Nope...nothing. Is this a stage they go through, or what?? Otherwise, he is fine. Swimming about and everything normally. His eyes look clear and his shell is still hard and healthy-looking.

Oh, I have been feeding him in his habitat. I didn't learn until yesterday that this is a no-no.

Any ideas....anyone??? Thanks so much for your help!

[steve]

Does he have a heater? What is the water temperature? Feeding in his habitat is OK, though you might want to avoid feeding him the messy stuff in there.

[Jenn27]

No, no heater. I will have to check the temp. I didn't realize he needed a heater, too, like my other water babies. Thanks! I will check on the temp of the tank and get back to you.

[Jenn27]

The temp is at 75*. I do keep his basking light on 12 hours a day, or more. Either myself or my son will turn it on around 7 a.m. and off between 8 and 9 p.m. This is just so odd. I mean he is acting totally normal....swimming about and basking on his stone. Oh and he does get natural light, as well. We have his tank next to a window and try to keep the curtain pulled back so he gets natural sunlight.

[steve]

Is there any way to bump up the temperatures a bit? Getting light though a window can be dangerous for small tanks... it will quickly heat up and cool down which is not something you want, especially with hatchlings.

[Jenn27]

I will have to buy another heater in order to do that. I will try to get one. So, I need to put the curtain back down? What about his heat lamp? He needs that, right?

[steve]

I would try to avoid direct and indirect sunlight around the tank. He still needs a UVB lamp, a basking lamp, filter and heater. For non-electrical stuff, he needs a basking area and a couple of thermometers.

[Jenn27]

Thanks for all of your help, but when I got home today, he had passed. I'm so sad about it...he was doing so well in the beginning.....

[darla1699]

so sorry for your loss jenn27

[steve]

Sorry to hear it

[Jenn27]

Thanks.